"There will be life after mulesing," Mr Hamblin said. "And the science now proves it."

Mr Hamblin was speaking in response to the positive trial results for anti-flystrike clips, which were launched by researchers from Australian Wool Innovation earlier this week.

"The launch of results from the 90-day mark in most recent AWI anti-flystrike clip trials shows that we are closing in on another viable alternative to mulesing," he said.

"One of the most important aspects of the trials was that clips provided comparable protection from flystrike as against mulesing, and that is the key measure growers are looking for.

"Changing such a widely used husbandry practice as mulesing is always going to be a challenge, but with still over two years to go until the industry commitment to phase out mulesing, these results give great cause for optimism."

Mr Hamblin said that any concerns about welfare aspects of clips had now been put to rest after the release of independent scientific data from the Animal Welfare Science Centre.